Mt. Healthy voters to decide on utility aggregation program

Oct. 22, 2013

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Mount Healthy voters have a chance to approve a program that can save residents money on their gas and electric bills.

Electric and natural gas aggregation is on the ballot Nov. 5. There are two ballot issues – Issue 5 for natural gas aggregation, Issue 6 for electric aggregation.

Aggregation programs allow a group of customers to join together to form a large group that buys energy for its members. A large buying group may be able to get a better price for the group members than a resident can get on his own.

The city has been working with a consultant, Independent Energy Consultants.

Ohio law allows communities such as townships and cities to form aggregation buying groups. Officials negotiate and enter into contracts with an outside supplier for all of the customer-members in its group.

To take advantage of aggregation, voters must pass the ballot issues. Since 2001, about a dozen communities in Hamilton County have voted on aggregation measures.

City manager Bill Kocher said the issue was raised by residents. Council approved putting the issue on the ballot in May.

Kocher said aggregation only changes who the power is bought from. Duke Energy is still the service provider and responds to power outages, downed power lines and other calls for service.

There is no cost to the city to have aggregation and the city does not receive any funding for having an aggregation program in place.

“This is nothing more than an opportunity for our residents to save money on their utility bills,” he said.

Residents don’t have to participate; it’s voluntary. If Issues 5 and 6 are passed, then each utility customer in the city would receive a notice that allows them to “opt-out” or not participate in the program.

If a customer does not want to participate, all they need to do is return the notice within 21 days. If a customer does want to participate, they don’t need to do anything and they will be automatically enrolled once the opt-out period expires.

Kocher said if the ballot issues are passed, the city will hold public hearings and give residents a chance to get more information, adopt a plan and become certified by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. Then the city will seek bids from suppliers and select providers for residents of Mount Healthy.

“This can be a real positive for our residents,” Kocher said. “And because we can join with other communities, we have the opportunity to get some really good rates.”